DIYframingArticles

Handy Hints Sheets

If you have ever wanted to find out about a specific area of framing, this is the place for you. New titles are constantly being added so it's worth a return visit.

Soime items are available to all visitors as downloadable sheets (PDF), in order to help understand and use our products better.

Where sheets involve ideas derived from our training, access remains free but limited to members to download as a PDF. If you have not already registered as a DIYFraming member, you can use the link below to register. Registration is free.

1 Components of A Basic Frame

An introduction to the key elements of a frame, information about each aspect and the tools used in association with them.

2 Cutting A Single Mount Using A Logan Bevel Cutter

3 Attaching Artwork Using A hinge Mount System

This illustrates a method of attaching 2D artwork to a mount system. It explains why you might choose this type of mount system and its benefits. The sheet then provides step by step instructions on how to make a hinge mount, from scratch.

4 Planning The Dimensions Of A Mount

5 Choosing The Style & Quantity of Moulding For A Frame

This sheet provides the reasoning behind how to decide on the amount of moulding required to frame a mounted piece of artwork. It also takes you through some of the considerations that should be made at the planning stage.

6 Making Deep Bevel Edge Mounts - (members only)

Deep bevels in a mount create a real sense of quality and luxury in art work. In this project we use foam core board to make the bevel strips, to which we attach decorative tapes to create a coloured or textured bevel.

7 Creating A Sink Mount - (members only)

Sink mounts are used to create a space into which objects can sit and artwork on thicker boards can be housed. Once the "sink" is built, the supporting walls are flush with the surface of the artwork. You can then make a mount in the usual way before moving on to framing it.

This sheet offers guidance on how to undertake this project, providing useful tips on avoiding some possible problems.

8 Making A Shadow Mount - (members only)

Shadow mounts are used for two main reasons:1. aesthetics – the shadow effect can be used to great effect to add depth and interest to a picture;2. practicality – providing depth behind the glass. This is particularly useful where needlecraft has items sewn in to the design (beads etc) or where the choice of sewn threads creates raised effects.

This sheet takes you through the process of creating a shadow mount and helps you to avoid potential hazards along the way.

This project forms the foundation stage for creating a support system for several methods of attaching fabric based work for framing.

10 Attaching Artwork Using The Newberry Fit - (members only)

Using a "Newberry Fit", or push through method, is a simple way of holding light-weight, fabric based artwork on a flat panel, ready for framing.

11 Pinning Needlework into a Foam Core panel - (members only)

Pinning to a foam-core panel is a highly versatile and simple method of preparing needlework for framing. It is especially useful for fine-tuning the postion of cross-stitching.

12 Lacing Needlework on a Foam Board - (members only)

Lacing is a traditional and well-known method of stretching and supporting needlework ready for framing. Because it is liked and reliable, it is often requested as a preferred method of preparing work for framing.

13a Cutting Mitre Joints Using A NOBEX Mitre Saw: Part 1

This is the first of two sheets showing you how to plan, mark up and cut the mitres in moulding using a saw. This part deals with making a mitre cut (right hand side) on each of the four pieces of moulding.

13b Cutting Mitre Joints Using A NOBEX Mitre Saw: Part 2

This is the second of two sheets showing you how to make mitre cuts using a saw. This part deals with the meaurement, marking up and cutting the "return" (second) mitre cut for each section of moulding. Particular attention is given to making sure the moulding is correctly positioned in the mitre saw block and how to use the meauring system.

14 Using A Mitre Trimmer to Create Perfect Joints

Using a mitre trimmer along with your mitre saw enables you to create a perfect mitre: as good as the finish from a professional framer's guillotine. This sheet should be used with the two sheets about cutting mitres with a mitre saw.

15 Using A Logan Studio Joiner To Create A Frame

16 Cutting Mitre Joints Using A LOGAN Mitre Saw

The Logan Saw has been designed specifically with picture framing in mind. This takes you through the process of cutting mitres in moulding, ready for joining. Because of this saw's well designed clamps and measure system, it really becomes a simple task.

17 Stringing a Frame For Hanging - (members only)

There is no single method for tying a knot in picture hanging cord. The acid test is whether it will hold the weight of the framed artwork! However, a method that works (and the one demonstrated in most training sessions) is illustrated on this sheet.

18 Cutting Glass: Score & Snap - (members only)

If you are unsure which glass product to use, or uncertain how to cut glass to fit your frames, this sheet will show you how.

19 Trimming Glass - (members only)

When you cut glass it doesn't always go according to plan. What happens if the glass is just a bit too big, or the edge doesn't snap cleanly? This sheet explains how to use nipping pliers to sort out the problem.

20 Tapes & Their Uses

We use a variety of tapes in picture framing. It's not always easy to decide which tape is best for a particular element of framing as you are making a purchase. This sheet takes you through the stages of framing indicating the "tape options" on the way.

21 Using Pass Through Hinges - (members only)

When you want to see the whole piece of artwork, but need to have it stuck down on to a coloured board, what do you use? In the case of most 2D artwork, pass-through hinges will be the answer. They are similar to T-Hinges, but the "attaching end" sits behind the board rather than being visible above the artwork. This sheet takes you though how to position your artwork and attach with "pass-through" hinges.

22 Using V-Hinges to Attach Artwork - (members only)

This is used for an invisible mount attachment allowing the artwork to “float” within the mount opening. It is really only suitable for small pieces as it is basically a weak attachment. It works most easily when using a gummed hinging tape strip, attached, in part, to the back of the artwork.

23 Hardware For Hanging Frames

This is an information sheet featuring some of the hardware used in framing. It specifically focuses on items used to hold artwork in frames, when ordinary tab systems may not offer a solution. It also shows and describes a wide product range used when hanging artwork.

A simple way of making a stretcher frame for stretching and attaching canvas based art. It is a standard method for less valuable / expensive pieces and work particularly well with stable media, such as photo canvases. NB no wedges to add stretch at a later date.

26 Framing Pictures on Canvas - Framing Guidance - (members only)

Exploring the range of mouldings used when framing canvas work, the considerations you need to make for each style and guidance on how to plan the frame.

Some guidance on methods and hardware used for both securing the stretched canvas "block" inside the frame and holding its position.

28 Glass Products - Right Choices

It's very easy to opt for basic 2mm float glass for your picture frames without questioning what's available and what benefit those options might provide. This sheet explains what some of the alternatives are.

29 Slips & Fillets: Purpose & Applications - (members only)

Slips and fillets are mysterious items, mentioned but with the assumption we know what they are about. After a few enquiries, we thought it would be sensible to give some ideas about when, where and how to use them.

30 How Much Moulding Do I Need: Ready Reckoner

This sheet provides a quick way of broadly gauging how much moulding you need to order for a framing project. Once you have the "glass size" measurement, simply consult this table.

NEW The first of two sheets looking at how you can fine tune your mount cutter's set up and spot where cutting problems are happening and identifying the causes.

40 Products For Fine Tuning & Touching Up Frames

No matter how carefully you work, there will be times where hair line cracks remain in joins, slight scratches appear after building, miss matches in corner finishes and, especially with more ornate mouldings, the delicate finishes chip off on the back edge of joins. HOWEVER, the good news is there is a range of specialised products to help you get the finish just right.

41 Frame Finishing Products & Their Uses

When working with natural wood mouldings it is easy to add your own finish, creating exactly the look you want. One simple, fool proof system is to follow a simple sequence of steps and use the right products.

42 Cutting a Mount Using A Board Mounted Cutter - (members only)

NEW This illustrates the proces of how to use a Logan 301 / 350 - 1 Compact Elite mount cutting system to produce a single window munt.

43 Adding Colour Bands to a Mount - (members only)

NEW A simple explanation of how you can make a mount with flush fitting colour bands running through them.

44 Cutting a Mount With Offset Corners - (members only)

NEW A very effective "fancy cut" corner is the offset. In this sheet we show the basic principles of creating a single mount with stylish offsets: using this cutting routine the core (waste) remains in one unit so it's easy to see how you could turn this into a double (isn't it?).

45 Assembling A Mitre Trimmer Measure System

NEW The mitre trimmer measure system is a little idiosyncratic to assemble (to say the least). This sheet tries to outline a staged process that will work. Make sure you read this though with all elements identified before starting.

47 Working With a Nobex Promaster Framing Kit

NEW: Once set up the cutting routine in making a frame is pretty logical. It is important, however, to be clear about the role of each specific element of the X-act system and how they support your cutting routine.

48 Cutting a Single Inlay Mount

NEW Where you want a colour-edge feature (on your mount) for your artwork / image, but where your chosen moulding’s rebate is too shallow to accommodate a (layered) double mount, then an inlay mount provides the design you are after.